The morning breeze stirred the sparse leaves, and sunlight filtered through layers of green, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Nian Jiaojiao rose, seeing the contented face of the man beside her. She chuckled softly and, without disturbing him, got up, dressed, and left the room.
Taking advantage of the fresh morning air, Nian Jiaojiao took deep breaths and stretched her body by rotating her waist.
"Wife, good morning..."
Xingyun emerged from the room with a head full of disheveled hair.
Nian Jiaojiao, surprised that he hadn't woken up earlier, heard Xingyun say,
"Wife, shall I stew a rooster for you this morning."
Nian Jiaojiao glanced at the sky, realizing it was getting late, and asked hesitantly,
"Are you sure you want to start stewing it now?"
Having passed the Xiucai examination, Nian Jiaojiao and the other successful candidates were naturally no longer attending classes in the Sky Class Three.
Therefore, they were given a long break, only to resume their studies after new classes were formed in the latter half of the year.
With no need to go to the academy, Nian Jiaojiao was not in a hurry.
However, stewing a nourishing rooster would take at least one to two hours to bring out the flavor. By the time Xingyun finished, breakfast and lunch could be combined.
Xingyun nodded affirmatively,
"Yes! Wife, you were too exhausted last night, you need to replenish your strength!"
Nian Jiaojiao: ???
I suspect you're implying something, but I have no proof.
At this moment, Nan Qing also pushed open his door, having clearly overheard their conversation.
He cast a faint glance at Nian Jiaojiao, then turned his back to them.
However, upon seeing the matching dark circles under Nan Qing's and Xingyun's eyes, Nian Jiaojiao suddenly understood.
She sheepishly touched the back of her head.
Perhaps she had indeed been... too eager last night....
...
Half an hour later.
At the dining table.
Xingyun had not actually brought a bowl of chicken soup. When everyone was seated, he smiled innocently and said,
"Wife, your chicken soup is stewing for you."
Yuchuan, confused, asked,
"Chicken soup? Aren't we going to a restaurant today to celebrate Wife topping the list?"
Nan Qing then spoke with a smile,
"It's fine, Wife can drink it tonight. Your depleted body needs replenishment."
As soon as he finished speaking, all the men present understood implicitly.
They lowered their heads, meticulously fiddling with the food in their bowls.
How could a woman be questioned about her frailty?
So Nian Jiaojiao immediately retorted,
"Oh? Whether I'm depleted or not, didn't you hear it clearly last night?"
This sudden "little train" of conversation caused the other three men to lower their heads even further, their faces nearly buried in their bowls in a pretense of not understanding.
Xuan Yi, who had called out "no more" all night, wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Nan Qing, having been exposed, didn't know how to retort and could only let out a cold hmph, ignoring Nian Jiaojiao.
...
At noon.
Tong Ziyao and Tong Fu, siblings, arrived together.
Tong Ziyao was dressed in snow-white clothing, adorned with exquisite silver embroidery.
He stood tall with long, slender limbs, his jet-black hair falling straight. His chiseled features exuded an elegant and handsome charm.
Seeing his exquisite attire, Nian Jiaojiao couldn't help but pause, then said,
"Everyone is here, let's depart."
Tong Ziyao's unusual appearance today, except for Nan Qing, made the other three men feel a sense of crisis to varying degrees.
Xingyun directly took action against this "sense of crisis."
He suddenly walked in front of Nian Jiaojiao, blocking her view of the others, then said with a smile,
"Wife, can Xingyun order so many delicious dishes today?"
As he said the word "so many," he exaggeratedly stretched his arms to indicate an immense quantity.
Nian Jiaojiao, unaware of his little scheme, replied earnestly,
"Of course, order whatever you wish to eat!"
"That's wonderful!"
Xingyun clapped his hands in delight and naturally linked his arm with Nian Jiaojiao's.
Along the way, he continuously initiated topics, chattering in Nian Jiaojiao's ear, preventing her from looking elsewhere.
Nan Qing, walking behind, looked with satisfaction at his third brother's retreating back.
Mm... finally did something smart....
...
Nian Jiaojiao's group walked for a while, passing through a bustling market area.
Several street performers were showcasing their skills, punctuated by excited shouts. Outside the performance area, a sea of people cheered them on, the sounds echoing back and forth, creating a lively scene.
Xingyun, who loved to join in the excitement, released Nian Jiaojiao's arm and tried to push forward to get a clearer view of the performance.
"Xingyun, be careful, don't wander off."
Nian Jiaojiao reminded him.
However, her voice was quickly lost in the din.
At this moment, Xuan Yi walked to Nian Jiaojiao's side and said,
"Wife, I'll go pull third brother back, you guys continue walking."
Nian Jiaojiao hesitated,
"Will you be alright on your own?"
Xuan Yi laughed heartily and said,
"Wife, don't worry, I'll be fine. I've hunted many ferocious beasts alone on the mountains, so I have the ability to protect myself if anything happens."
Hearing Xuan Yi's words, Nian Jiaojiao looked back at the waiting companions and agreed to his plan.
Nian Jiaojiao and the others arrived at the restaurant, waiting for Xuan Yi to bring Xingyun back.
However, after some time, there was still no sign of them. Nian Jiaojiao became restless and said,
"I'll go find them."
Tong Fu stood up and said,
"I'll go with you."
Nian Jiaojiao shook her head,
"No, if you leave, there will be no other woman to keep them company. You stay here, I'll go look."
With that, Nian Jiaojiao strode towards the market they had just passed.
Meanwhile.
Xingyun was engrossed in watching the performers when, due to the dense crowd and his own less agile legs,
He was jostled a couple of times and lost his balance, falling to the side.
Before he could fall, someone grabbed him.
"Are you alright?"
A woman's concerned voice came from above.
After regaining his balance, Xingyun quickly pulled away from her hand.
He looked up, and the woman looked somewhat familiar...
Seeing Xingyun's puzzled expression, the woman pointed to herself,
"Don't you remember me? We bumped into each other on the street last time!"
Hearing the woman's words, Xingyun recalled.
However, he didn't consider someone he met for the second time as a familiar acquaintance, so he politely thanked her,
"Thank you for your help just now."
After speaking, he turned to go back to his wife.
But to his surprise, the woman persistently blocked his path,
"Sir, meeting twice is fate. Would you do me the honor of joining me for tea at the teahouse?"
Xingyun repeatedly shook his head,
"No, no, no, it's not necessary. My wife is still waiting for me, I need to hurry back."
"Wife? You have a wife!?"
The woman's expression was filled with unconcealed shock and disappointment.
Although she had suspected that the person she admired might already be married, she had still held onto a sliver of hope.
After all, he looked quite young.
Just as they were in a stalemate, Xuan Yi found them.
He saw a woman pestering his third brother.
He quickly strode forward and stood in front of Xingyun.